NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series
Tony Schumacher, Robert Hight and Greg Anderson were the winners in the season-opening Carquest Auto Parts Nationals at Pomona. In an all-Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel final, Schumacher powered to a 4.499 second, 331.28 mph win over Cory McClenathan's 4.536, 329.26 mph. In Funny Car, John Force's new stiffer, safer Ford Mustang got to the winner's circle with son-in-law Hight. (Force and daughter Ashley lost in the semifinals.) Hight went 4.861, 284.39 mph vs. Cruz Pedregon's 4.879, 322.50 mph in a Chevrolet Impala. In a first-round race against Force, defending class champion Tony Pedregon had an explosion. He was treated for second-degree hand burns and released from a local hospital. Jack Beckman qualified 15th in the Valvoline Dodge Charger but lost in the second round. In Pro Stock, Anderson's Pontiac GXP ran 6.616, 209.23 mph to best Jeg Coughlin's 6.638, 208.42 mph in a Chevrolet Cobalt. Ron Krisher qualified 15th in the Valvoline Cobalt but lost in the first round.
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